PLTW - Medical Interventions Final
Exam Study Guide
What is a medical intervention? - correct-answer -Any measure whose purpose is
to improve health or alter the course of a disease
What are the main categories of interventions that function to maintain human
health? - correct-answer -Treatments, Diagnostics and Equipment
How do scientists gather evidence during the potential outbreak of an infectious
disease? - correct-answer -1. Record patient's symptoms and find similarities with
other patients
2. Isolate the bacteria in a lab
3. Go to affected areas and determine the origin of the disease
4. Identify the disease using DNA sequencing since pathogens alter certain DNA
sequences
What is bioinformatics? - correct-answer -The collection, classification, storage,
and analysis of biochemical and biological information using computers.
(Especially applied in molecular genetics and genomics)
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How can DNA sequences be used to identify disease pathogens? - correct-answer
-You can observe mutations and abnormalities that disease pathogens have
What is an antibody? - correct-answer -A blood protein in the body produced by
B-cells (B-Lymphocytes) that fight against a foreign substance by recognizing a
specific part of it.
How do antibodies identify and inactivate antigens? - correct-answer -1. Shape
recognition
2. Proteins of the antigens are configured to specific antibodies, so the foreign
antigens bind to the specific antibodies that inactivate them
How can the ELISA assay be used to detect disease? - correct-answer -1. Primary
antibodies attach to specific antigen
2. Secondary antibody attaches to primary antibody
3. When enzyme substrate is added, color change occurs
Why is it important for doctors to know the concentration of the disease antigen
present in a patient's system? - correct-answer -Higher concentration = closer to
patient zero
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Patient Zero - correct-answer -The first person to be infected with a particular
disease
What steps do scientists take to diagnose, treat, and prevent future spread of a
disease outbreak? - correct-answer -1. Record the symptoms
2. Locate the origin of the pathogen
3. Run tests to determine antibodies and antigens
4. Take preventative measures (quarantine, wash hands often, etc.)
How were the following used in managing the outbreak on Sue Smith's campus:
PCR, Bioinformatics/BLAST, and ELISA? - correct-answer -These tests determine
the concentration of the disease, which lead to the source of the outbreak
Which part of the bacterial cell allows the bacteria to attach to specific surfaces? -
correct-answer -Adhesins, or cell-surface components/appendages of the bacteria
that facilitate attachment to other cells or surfaces
Which bacterial structure is involved with protein synthesis? - correct-answer -
rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA (Ribosomal, Transfer, Messenger)